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Author Topic: Ex-Seminarian stories  (Read 112229 times)

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Offline Plenus Venter

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Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
« Reply #15 on: January 31, 2025, 08:40:42 PM »
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  • He knew I was a musician and that he and I shared a love of Beethoven, and the piano..(He, on occasion,  had me perform some excerpts for the class a fee excerpts of a Beethoven Sonata; and he himself performed the 2nd movement of the Pathetique Sonata once)
    He took the opportunity, on this particular evening, to ask me if I "wanted to listen to a bit of music..."
    Of course I replied in the affirmative...
    He comically proceeded to "tiptoe" (as it was after Compline,) over to his cabinet to retrieve
    A DVD...it was a DVD of a Van Cliburn competition of piano concerti, featuring Beethoven, Mozart, Prokofiev, and, my favorite, Rachmaninov.
    He then led the way up to music room, and we watched the performances late into the night. His commentary was priceless...
    You might enjoy listening to his Lordship's recent interview with James Delingpole where he talks a bit about music and the composers, although you have no doubt heard it all before - it starts around 48:30:
    https://www.cathinfo.com/the-sacred-catholic-liturgy-chant-prayers/bishop-williamson-interview-with-james-delingpole/msg970949/?topicseen#msg970949

    Offline Ubi Caritas

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #16 on: January 31, 2025, 10:03:58 PM »
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  • I came to the seminary very late. His Excellency had me come to his office. I was very intimidated - he was a bishop, and I was nobody. So he utters my last name and swishes it around in his mouth a few moments and nails my ancestry. Then he comes out and asks what kind of composers I enjoy. The first thing that comes into my mind is "The Barber of Seville", so I just blurt Rossini. +W sits back and closes his eyes: "Beethoven said that Rossini could have been a great composer, if his teacher had bothered spanking him enough." Then he asked if I liked Beethoven. I replied yes and he puts on Beethoven and starts head-banging. I'm trapped in this office with this mighty man and he's just thrashing. And I am so twilight zone at this point, I just don't know how to react. And that's how he tested and teased you.

    We used to call him HEBRW (His Excellency Bishop Richard Williamson). I think he got a kick out of that.


    Offline Ubi Caritas

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #17 on: January 31, 2025, 10:53:55 PM »
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  • Two more episodes come to mind. 

    In the summer, the seminary would host retreats for lay people. We seminarians and staff all had to eat in a back room, behind the kitchen (where Scott ruled supreme!). It was a pretty tight space. So His Excellency is across from me and we're going through the thesaurus about the food ("No young man - it is not 'vittles', it is a 'repast'). So +W is done and wishes to leave, but Father Iscara is anchoring the table (other end is tight to the wall). So the Bishop looks down at Father and sends those crazy eyerbrows of his wriggling. Father Iscara, who'd shuffled in late, barely looks at him but assumes the lip curl contra benignitam. So Father sighs and starts to rise and Bishop Williamson dives under the table. Father Iscara is up and looks and is dumbfounded as the bishop has disappeared. Hs Excellency surfaces somewhere on my right and climbs up the seat. Father Iscara is standing, holding the table, watching this with his lidded eyes and he's just not impressed. Very unimpressed. And with his smirk, Bishop Williamson escapes.

    +W liked to dabble in hot sauce. One time, a seminarian had gotten him something special, and he ended up getting some in his eye during lunch. He flailed about and the whole dining hall went stone silent as he worked through that one. He was spry though - you could see that.

    He could thunder and he could play. He was an experience to listen to and be around.



    Offline AMDGJMJ

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #18 on: February 02, 2025, 05:42:53 AM »
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  • Two more episodes come to mind.

    In the summer, the seminary would host retreats for lay people. We seminarians and staff all had to eat in a back room, behind the kitchen (where Scott ruled supreme!). It was a pretty tight space. So His Excellency is across from me and we're going through the thesaurus about the food ("No young man - it is not 'vittles', it is a 'repast'). So +W is done and wishes to leave, but Father Iscara is anchoring the table (other end is tight to the wall). So the Bishop looks down at Father and sends those crazy eyerbrows of his wriggling. Father Iscara, who'd shuffled in late, barely looks at him but assumes the lip curl contra benignitam. So Father sighs and starts to rise and Bishop Williamson dives under the table. Father Iscara is up and looks and is dumbfounded as the bishop has disappeared. Hs Excellency surfaces somewhere on my right and climbs up the seat. Father Iscara is standing, holding the table, watching this with his lidded eyes and he's just not impressed. Very unimpressed. And with his smirk, Bishop Williamson escapes.

    +W liked to dabble in hot sauce. One time, a seminarian had gotten him something special, and he ended up getting some in his eye during lunch. He flailed about and the whole dining hall went stone silent as he worked through that one. He was spry though - you could see that.

    He could thunder and he could play. He was an experience to listen to and be around.

    Great stories!  Thank you for sharing!  :cowboy:
    "Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine!"

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    Offline Minnesota

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #19 on: February 02, 2025, 08:17:28 AM »
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  • Two more episodes come to mind.

    In the summer, the seminary would host retreats for lay people. We seminarians and staff all had to eat in a back room, behind the kitchen (where Scott ruled supreme!). It was a pretty tight space. So His Excellency is across from me and we're going through the thesaurus about the food ("No young man - it is not 'vittles', it is a 'repast'). So +W is done and wishes to leave, but Father Iscara is anchoring the table (other end is tight to the wall). So the Bishop looks down at Father and sends those crazy eyerbrows of his wriggling. Father Iscara, who'd shuffled in late, barely looks at him but assumes the lip curl contra benignitam. So Father sighs and starts to rise and Bishop Williamson dives under the table. Father Iscara is up and looks and is dumbfounded as the bishop has disappeared. Hs Excellency surfaces somewhere on my right and climbs up the seat. Father Iscara is standing, holding the table, watching this with his lidded eyes and he's just not impressed. Very unimpressed. And with his smirk, Bishop Williamson escapes.

    +W liked to dabble in hot sauce. One time, a seminarian had gotten him something special, and he ended up getting some in his eye during lunch. He flailed about and the whole dining hall went stone silent as he worked through that one. He was spry though - you could see that.

    He could thunder and he could play. He was an experience to listen to and be around.

    The funniest thing here is that an Englishman liked hot sauce. Usually they wince after eating anything spicier than ketchup.
    Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed


    Offline AGeorge

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #20 on: February 02, 2025, 09:15:02 AM »
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  • You might enjoy listening to his Lordship's recent interview with James Delingpole where he talks a bit about music and the composers, although you have no doubt heard it all before - it starts around 48:30:
    https://www.cathinfo.com/the-sacred-catholic-liturgy-chant-prayers/bishop-williamson-interview-with-james-delingpole/msg970949/?topicseen#msg970949
    Thank you!

    Offline AGeorge

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #21 on: February 02, 2025, 09:22:07 AM »
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  • The funniest thing here is that an Englishman liked hot sauce. Usually they wince after eating anything spicier than ketchup.
    He also required the little plastic bear at the head table to be filled with honey for his tea at all times. 🙂

    Offline Seraphina

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #22 on: February 02, 2025, 11:45:05 AM »
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  • The thought of Bp. W. diving under the table is amazing—-and hilarious to me! Was this in Ridgefield? If so, I know the room you’re referring to.

    Vittles are what Frs. Tim and Joe Pfeiffer eat.

    I suspect Bp. Zendejas had something to do with the hot sauce experimentation.

    I’m going to get the plastic honey bear in honor of Bp. W. It’ll remind me to pray for him whenever I see it.

    Thinking of Bp. W’s dietary preferences, his favorite fruit pie was apricot. I baked one for him and served it to him at a Confirmation. To my dismay, after taking a big slice, he plopped it in a bowl and proceeded to drown it in milk and cover it with sugar!  He then ate the mixture with a spoon. 
    Is this normal in Britain or particular to Bp. Williamson? 


    Offline OABrownson1876

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #23 on: February 06, 2025, 03:15:07 PM »
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  • One day Bp. Williamson had his bishop's conference; but this night was a special conference, almost two hours long because we seminarians were privileged to listen to Beethoven's 9th Symphony.  It was a beautiful listen, but mainly because Beethoven was nearly deaf when he composed and produced it.  At the end Lord Williamson asked us, "What does this symphony remind you of?"  He was in his glory at the moment, for he indeed loved his Beethoven.

    I raised my hand, "My Lord, Beethoven's 9th reminds me of the Sound of Music."  He shook his finger at me and the seminarians lost it.  Fun days.  
    Bryan Shepherd, M.A. Phil.
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    Offline OABrownson1876

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #24 on: February 06, 2025, 03:35:21 PM »
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  • I had an oral exam one day in Metaphysics, and I was the last seminarian to go.  I was standing before Frs. Goetler and Fullerton.  In walks the bishop behind me and and he begins running his fingers across the blinds to offer a little distraction.  I stepped up and said, "Well reverend fathers, the first shall be last and the last Shepherd shall flunk."  They burst out laughing, but I did not turn around to look at the bishop, as I kept my cool.   My question was, "God exists and a butterfly exists, explain the two existences."  I was actually pleasantly surprised by my own answers, but I think they gave me a "D."    At dinner that night they were all laughing not at me, but with me.    
    Bryan Shepherd, M.A. Phil.
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    Offline ark of covenant

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #25 on: February 06, 2025, 05:27:26 PM »
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  • I arrived late to the seminary in October 2001 because of 9/11. Later in February 2002 as a proud Irishman I had discovered that Ireland beat England in the rugby 19-13 so I hauled myself to his office to tell his Lordship that Ireland beat England to which he replied “Oh shut up”. I went off chuckling. 
    On another little anecdote this one not as a seminarian. I was serving Confirmations in Cork. When the ceremony was over His Lordship, Fr. MacDonald and I genuflected. My trousers were stuck to my legs, so when I genuflected the leg of my trousers ripped from top to bottom, but I continued the ceremony as nobody knew. After the ceremony was over I approached His Lordship requesting to keep the cassock on because my trousers had ripped. To which he replied “Oh no, not another split in the Resistance”. I hope you have a good laugh at my expense.


    Offline Seraphina

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #26 on: February 06, 2025, 05:41:45 PM »
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  • I arrived late to the seminary in October 2001 because of 9/11. Later in February 2002 as a proud Irishman I had discovered that Ireland beat England in the rugby 19-13 so I hauled myself to his office to tell his Lordship that Ireland beat England to which he replied “Oh shut up”. I went off chuckling.
    On another little anecdote this one not as a seminarian. I was serving Confirmations in Cork. When the ceremony was over His Lordship, Fr. MacDonald and I genuflected. My trousers were stuck to my legs, so when I genuflected the leg of my trousers ripped from top to bottom, but I continued the ceremony as nobody knew. After the ceremony was over I approached His Lordship requesting to keep the cassock on because my trousers had ripped. To which he replied “Oh no, not another split in the Resistance”. I hope you have a good laugh at my expense.
    Don’t you love the cassock!

    Offline ark of covenant

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #27 on: February 06, 2025, 05:44:30 PM »
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  • Absolutely. It hides a multitude of sins.

    Offline ark of covenant

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #28 on: February 06, 2025, 05:55:38 PM »
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  • I was told another story by Br. Marcel.

    At some feast day in the seminary His Lordship was celebrant and the whole crew of the St. John’s were present too. They were singing the Kyrie and being them, it went on and on. His Lordship was getting annoyed and beckoned the MC, the then Edward McDonald to ask them what it was they were singing, to which they replied it was a “stuffed Kyrie”. His Lordship replied “well tell them to stuff it.”

    Online Ladislaus

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    Re: Ex-Seminarian stories
    « Reply #29 on: February 06, 2025, 06:56:38 PM »
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  • I was told another story by Br. Marcel.

    At some feast day in the seminary His Lordship was celebrant and the whole crew of the St. John’s were present too. They were singing the Kyrie and being them, it went on and on. His Lordship was getting annoyed and beckoned the MC, the then Edward McDonald to ask them what it was they were singing, to which they replied it was a “stuffed Kyrie”. His Lordship replied “well tell them to stuff it.”

    So, yeah, those flamboyant ones with their lace surplices that look as though they could have been purchased from a Victoria's Secret introduced the "troped" Kyrie (which I guess he called stuffed here).  Now, one week when Fr. Bourmaud (God rest his soul, a great priest) was in charge due to +Williamson being out of town, I went to Father Bourmaud and pointed out to him that the Council of Trent (or directives thereafter) banned troped Kyries, and Fr. Bourmaud told them to stop it.